Page 153 of Goodbye Note

“I’d like that.”

My brother grabbed my shirt and dragged me toward the stage. “Come on, star-crossed lover.” Since he was probably saving me from making an ass of myself, I didn’t object.

I gave a half-wave.

Arik grinned wider, then bit down on his lower lip. I closed my eyes, locking it in my memory.

Why did he feel like starlight?

What if it wasn’t him but some fucking mental illness my parents’ trauma passed down?

“You’ve got it bad.” Bronx laughed, coming up behind me as we plugged in. “You look at him like Fox looks at two cereals mixed together.”

I held up my middle finger right as the stage lights came up. The crowd laughed and screamed, not even fazed by my middle finger. That was our normal.

My brother leaned in to the mic, coming in with his low hum. I joined in to harmonize as I side-eyed the wings. Arik stood back far enough he couldn’t be seen, but I knew he was there. We locked eyes, and even if I did turn into my mother, I didn’t know if I was strong enough to give him up.

I shook my head, directing my attention back to the room. I had to remind myself not to look over every five minutes. We went off for the encore, and I grabbed his face, shoving him into the wall to kiss him for the minute before we let the fans call us back. He licked at my tongue, giving just as hard as I gave.

When I stepped back, his lips were swollen and red.

“Lindsay,” I whisper-yelled. “Do you have my other guitar?” I forgot I needed to switch.

“I’ve been waiting,” Lindsay said, standing too close for comfort.

“Thanks.”

Arik nodded at her, and she back at him. “When did she become your tech?”

“John has her doing some merch stuff after the ghost drop was so successful for you, and she fills in as a tech.”

“She is good at merch.” He cupped my face, looking at me with stars in his eyes. “You better get back out there.”

I groaned. “Three more songs and then I’m yours.”

I got six hours and three orgasms with Arik, but it didn’t recharge me like it used to. Now, it made me miss him more. I was on the verge of saying fuck it and burning this whole thing down. I wasn’t my mother.

I loved him, and I wasn’t ready to let go.

FORTY-FIVE

VARIAN

After six months of fist-fighting every time zone in the world while trying to make a relationship work, we got three days off together.

I’d never needed anything more in my life.

A flight and a long car ride, and then we finally drove over the bridge to Jekyll Island. It looked the same as I remembered, and since it wasn’t the right season, it was mostly deserted. Too cold for the beachgoers. The days were just starting to be warm, but it still got down below fifty at night. My perfect weather.

My grandparents brought us here a few times as kids. As an out of the way, fairly unknown spot, it was great for kids of rock stars who wanted to stay unseen. I had fond memories of our weeks here.

It was the perfect place to get a few days alone with Arik.

We got a private estate with acres surrounding it so we could be fully alone.

The lights were on, which meant he was already inside. My hands shook as I typed in the code. My heart started rattling in my chest when I pushed the door open. I dropped my bag and listened.

Silence.

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